Japanese deep-sea drilling vessel Chikyu recently honored 95-year-old Scripps Institution of Oceanography legend Walter Munk by renaming its science room the Walter Munk Library in honor of the local scientist known for his groundbreaking investigations on wave propagation, tides, currents and circulation.

“We hope that this will inspire young scientists and researchers aboard to follow in [Munk’s] pioneering footsteps,” said Wataru Azuma, director of Center for Deep Earth Exploration at the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology, which operates the Chikyu.

Last November, Munk paid a visit to the Chikyu by helicopter when the vessel was approximately 70 miles offshore of Japan’s coast, marking the first time he had been on a drilling vessel since he was aboard the CUSS1 off Guadalupe Island 50 years ago.

“Visiting the Chikyu was an exciting adventure,” said Munk. “The work aboard the Chikyu is most impressive and so is the presence of scientists from 15 countries collaborating on a challenging venture. I was greatly honored to have the ship’s library named for me; it comes at a time when I am keenly aware of the loss of our wonderful Scripps Library. It is nice to know that Scripps is being remembered halfway around the world.”